IN 2013, there was a military incursion in Lahad Datu, Sabah by Jamallul Kiram III and his band of soldiers, laying territorial claim to Eastern Sabah.

He claimed that it was part of the Sulu sultanate. More than 200 militants landed in Lahad Datu; many were armed.

In the ensuing battles, 10 civilians and 10 Malaysian security personnel lost their lives. The militants were then subject to our rule of law.  Their defence was they were fighting for the noble cause of the Sulu Sultanate. A belief that was actually a criminal act as they broke laws here.

We were at the receiving end of the stick from these militants at the material time.

It would now be prudent for Putrajaya to exercise caution in allowing Malaysian militants to return after fighting alongside the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East .

Their armed activities in a foreign land must be probed using all the transparent tools of police investigative powers. Although they are entitled to come back, they must be subject to the rule of law.

There are already elements of a criminal offence as their activities involved the illegal use of firearms. The fact that they carried out militant acts in another country does not exempt them from criminal investigations here.

Looking back at the Lahad Datu incident in 2013, the authorities must realise that the returning militants must have prepared for their Syrian stint here in Malaysia.

Just like how we lost our security personnel in that confrontation with the Lahad Datu militants, there could have been local security personnel injured or killed by our returning militants in Syria.

It is normal for the criminal mind to vent their frustrations and blame the system to justify their illegal acts. Our authorities should not empathise with them too much less we get too involved in their cause which creates the possibility of falling into the abyss of the Stockholm syndrome. 

In short, this syndrome means to feel that the perpetrators acts are justified and should be protected.

Criminal investigators here must work with their counterparts where the militants were actively operating. Investigations must probe the source of their arms and ammunitions, their financiers and how the money was channelled, whether it involved money laundering activities, how much carnage they caused.

Militancy is part of the criminal mind and the police must set aside personal sentiments when dealing with them. Every such mind will have their own justifications just as the Lahad Datu militants had. 

Some of our own people sympathised and empathised with them too. They began to believe there was a need to either join them or protect them in their cause. These dangers are also well documented in the said Stockholm syndrome.

It is opined that our returning militants should be investigated under all laws including cooperating with the authorities in the country they were operating in. We should use our experience from the Lahad Datu episode as the relevant yardstick.

G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.
 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.